New York Giants Fall to 0-2: The New York Giants lost to the Denver Broncos 41-23 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. With the defeat, the Giants have fallen to 0-2.

The game was competitive until late in the third quarter when the Broncos pulled away. But third-down inefficiency (1-for-11 on third down), red-zone inefficiency (1-of-3 inside the red zone), turnovers (four interceptions), and an inability to run the football (23 yards rushing) killed New York. In addition, the Giants’ defense allowed 416 total yards, including 109 yards rushing and never sacked QB Peyton Manning. All three phases failed as the Giants’ special teams allowed an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown that put the game out of reach, and P Steve Weatherford struggled (22 net yards per punt).

After the game, safety Antrel Rolle was asked if he felt the Giants were better than their record. “I can say what we are, but the record shows otherwise,” replied Rolle. “The record shows 0-2, so at this point, we’re an 0-2 team. It’s up to us what we’re going to do from this point on. We can either get in the tank, which is something that we will never, ever do, or we can go out and fight like I hope that we will do and like I see us going out there and doing. We have to pick it up. We have to pick it up in all three phases on the game, offensively, defensively, and special teams and make sure you clear up certain things because there are a lot of things that need to be clear.”

The Broncos received the football to start the game and easily drove 91 yards down field to the Giants’ 6-yard line. But the Giants’ defense forced their only turnover when DT Cullen Jenkins forced a fumble that S Ryan Mundy recovered in the end zone.

On the first play of New York’s first possession, QB Eli Manning hit WR Victor Cruz for a 51-yard completion, but the drive stalled at the Denver 18-yard line and the Giants settled for a 36-yard field goal by PK Josh Brown.

The score remained a 3-0 Giants until the second quarter as both teams exchanged punts twice. Denver began their fourth drive on the Giants’ 40-yard line. Four plays later, RB Knowshon Moreno broke off a 20-yard touchdown run. Early in the second quarter, the Broncos led 7-3.

After both teams exchanged punts again, the Giants started their fifth possession a Denver’s 43-yard line. However, the drive stalled at the 6-yard line and the Giants settled for a 24-yard field goal. Broncos 7 – Giants 6.

After the Giants’ defense forced a three-and-out, the Giants drove 37 yards in seven pays to set up a 41-yard field goal by Brown as the Giants regained the lead 9-7. Denver responded with an 8-play, 56-yard drive that set up a 42-yard field goal as Denver went back up 10-9. The Giants had a chance late in the second quarter to add more points as 34-yard pass to WR Hakeem Nicks and a 21-yard pass interference penalty set the Giants up at the Broncos 28-yard line with 16 seconds to go before intermission. But Manning’s deep pass for Nicks was intercepted in the end zone.

At halftime, the Broncos led 10-9.

In the second half, after a three-and-out by New York, the Broncos extended their advantage to 17-9 as Denver drove 53 yards in nine plays with the possession culminating in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to WR Wes Welker. The Giants responded with a 9-play, 81-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Brandon Jacobs. With just over three minutes to play in the third quarter, the Giants had cut the score to 17-16.

But then the roof caved in as the Broncos scored 21 unanswered points in a matter of minutes, including a 7-play, 80-yard drive that finished with a 25-yard touchdown run by Moreno; a 5-play, 36-yard touchdown drive after Eli Manning’s second interception; and an 81-yard punt return by WR Trindon Holliday. With 10 minutes to play, the Giants trailed 38-16.

Eli Manning was picked two more times in the fourth quarter as the Giants desperately tried to get back into the game. New York did score with four minutes left as RB Da’Rel Scott caught a 23-yard touchdown pass. But it was far too little, far too late. Denver tacked on a late 47-yard field goal.

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